You are hereBiblio / Faulty Valve
Faulty Valve
| Title | Faulty Valve |
| Publication Type | Case Study |
| Year of Publication | 2000 |
| Authors | Harris, Charles E., Pritchard Michael S., and Rabins Michael J. |
| Publisher | Wadsworth |
| Publication Language | eng |
| Keywords | Acknowledging , biomedical engineering , product , Product and Consumer Safety , product liability , quality , safety |
| Abstract | Describes the case of the Shiley heart valve. In the late 1970's Shiley Inc. came up with a new model of an artificial heart valve that allowed better blood flow than other models, thereby reducing the risk of blood clots. Unfortunately, the valves sometime became cracked, and during the inspection process these cracked valves either had to be discarded or rewelded. However, after over 300 deaths occurred due to cracked valves, it was discovered that the practice of rewelding did not always stop the cracking from happening, and in some cases cracked valves were not even rewelded but the cracks were only polished over. |
| Notes | Case from Harris, Charles, Michael Pritchard and Michael Rabins. Engineering Ethics: Concepts and Cases. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 2000. Available from the Wadsworth website. |
| URL | Click here for the document |
| Abbreviated Case Name | Faulty Valve |
